OT Tools for Public Schools

Welcome to a spot to share ideas for working with students in exceptional education in public schools.
Please describe activities you've successfully used with students to improve fine motor and self-help skills.
Creative classroom adaptations for sensory-based and ergonomic needs are sought. Technology applications, low and high tech, are appreciated.
Above all--be positive and professional in sharing your experiences and ideas. Thanks.

Friday, June 16, 2017

This has been a very happy week for me because I've been looking forward to today, my final day of employment. Having graduated from OT school in '78 that makes it almost 39 years of working as an OT. Although I did work a couple of years in another field I felt like I never stopped seeing people's needs through the OT lens.

Being an OT is the best job to have because it helps you so much personally. Whether you have little ones at home and you're savoring their development day by day or you have a family member who is going through a health battle, OT helps you help others.

This blog will stay up for a while and some of the ideas and activities will remain relevant for OT students, practicing therapists and others looking for ways to help kids learn. I recommend that you enter a specific topic in the Search textbox in the right-hand column on the page and peruse the posts that relate to that subject. There are many posts on Autism, Fine Motor, Sensory and School--as well as other assorted subjects.

Retirement equals:
No more paycheck
Lots more living

Advice from a retiree: Invest a little money from every paycheck, live below your means, keep reading and learning, relish feeling awkward and clueless because it means you are growing, give lots of money and skills away to others in need, figure out why you're here on the earth--if you don't know why, read the Bible for clues.

When I peruse the gorgeous, hand-crafted plant markers at my favorite botanic garden gift shop every summer, I'm so tempted to shell out my hard-earned pennies so I can take home a beautiful decoration for the garden. If I resist temptation I eventually remember that I can create my own markers with the multitude of materials I've purchased for my work projects over the school year. Ah...now I have enough money to buy a nice coffee at the Garden Café.

For our final project this school year our class of middle school students with significant intellectual disabilities painted sun and strawberry shapes to adorn huge tongue depressors, inscribed with motivating words and designs. The blank designs were made from solid white Sculpey and baked prior to painting. Customized messages were written on the wood and the painted shapes were attached to the tongue depressors with regular wood glue.

Students used their communication boards to describe the materials needed and then indicated which paint colors they wished to use. They all turned out pretty nice, eh?

Completed markers on top of the blanks.

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Use the end of a paint brush or tip of a pencil to dimple the strawberry prior to baking.

Stretch yourself--use more than one color to paint your sun.

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One-inch wide foam brushes work well for a smooth application.
The 1/4" diameter handles are fairly easy to grasp, or can easily slide into a universal cuff.

Use a personalized phrase for inspiration.

Can you tell that this student loves music by Michael Jackson?

Add a little tag and ribbon, then figure out a way to send them home safely in the backpacks!

Monday, June 5, 2017

Our last group of the school year had to be a delicious one. Give 'em a happy memory and they'll happily come back for more next fall, right? Well, the students seemed like they were going to enjoy the fruit we brought this morning for our smoothies, but no one said "Yes" to a sampling...

My speech-language pathologist buddy and I decided to try out my new, skinny baggies for creating homemade popsicles, using the leftovers from our smoothie making. Well, all the blended fruit ended up in the bags since no one was brave enough to sip their smoothies. Shucks.

Here are photos of our morning adventure with students in a high school program for students with autism:

Communication--paper and digital

Our sample popsicle-in-the-making. The colors varied according to the fruit blends.

A quickly fabricated, homemade funnel for filling the popsicle bags.

This heavily-vibrating blender is activated by pressing down on the container.
You believe me when I tell you that it won't hurt you, don't you???

Pouring the blended fruit into the funnel and popsicle bag.

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Students chose a combination of strawberries, dark cherries and bananas.
We also added a little water to make sure it would swirl easily in the blender.

Some students need lots of words on their communication boards.

Sorry, you can't have just a banana smoothie today.

The parent-teacher group at our high school has given us Walmart gift cards for the past three years, to help with the expenses associated with our groups. Some parents also give gift cards to the teachers to help with expenses for extra classroom materials. Several of my schools develop class businesses to learn pre-vocational skills, social skills and to raise funds for special projects. Gourmet dog biscuits, fancy soaps, weekly potato "bars," Friday coffee carts, cut-paper stationery, scented sugar scrubs--it's fun to see how well the students step up and improve their fine motor and "people" skills via these school-based opportunities.﻿

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Well, I can't show you the faces or even a clear view of the students walking away on the trail, but it was a warm yet dry day here in Central Virginia and everyone enjoyed walking on the paved path of a local park, looking for rocks left by previous walkers and for good spots to place their own painted rocks.

It was also a time to celebrate the seniors in the class, who will be walking
across the stage to receive their diplomas next week.

A variety of painting styles.

The class box of rox.

Looks like a sassy emoji on the left.

Winner of the "awwww" award.

Googly eyes do add quite a bit.

Hunting for rocks is a great motivator for students to get outside. It sets them on a "quest" and they notice the beauty of nature along the way.

Friday, May 26, 2017

An origami bouquet in an origami container with origami accents---perfect!

Students have to be very patient to make these precise creases and folds for the flowers, container and extra decorations. What a great way to explore spatial relations, sequencing and improve fine motor skills.

Students sold their creations at an in-school fair, which allowed them to practice social skills and money math.

Bear Creek Lake State Park

Where are you headed this year?

Nags Head, North Carolina, USA

Tucker Takes Nags Head

Disclaimer

OT Tools for Public Schools is a blog for therapists, teachers, parents and anyone else who is interested in creative ideas for helping students "show what they know." It is not a replacement for private occupational therapy, special education, related services or general education in public/private settings. It is not a "medical" site, medical or allied health advice is not offered, and the reader is encouraged to use his/her knowledge of the individual child to decide whether or not an activity might be beneficial or potentially harmful to the child.Since most of the activities mentioned are created from everyday, inexpensive materials, the reader is warned to consider the special needs of his/her student(s) and avoid using any materials which may potentially cause allergic reactions or other negative responses. Direct supervision of the child is required when materials are used.Now that I've scared you to smithereens, go have fun with these ideas!